120 mage (115 is OK, unless you want to use a mage weapon)
120 med
120 eval
120 necro (105 is fine, if you want to put 15 points into focus, just for fun)
120 spirit speak
120 resist (can be stoned off for spellweaving in peerless encounters)

This template will increase both your damage output and your resistance to casters.

Depends on what you're fighting. Against massive numbers of aggressive, low-damage melee mobs (not counting slimes, which are very annoying for melee), whirlwinding sampires are ridiculously good AoErs. Witherers are good for aggressive mobs that you can out-maneuver. Spellweavers (Essence of Wind) are outstanding for spread-out mobs and non-aggressives -- the range of essence of wind with a level 6 focus is literally the entire screen plus a couple of tiles in every direction. It's lower damage than wither though and a slow casting time. You can combine weaving & necro for a good package.

Final alternative: mysticism. Hail storm is slower cast than wither but faster cast than Essence of Wind, and higher damage than either. It's not quite as high-damage as a sampire with whirlwind, but for a caster I think it might be the new way to go AoE-wise.

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